When you’re selling your old house or real estate property that needs work in Little Rock, Arkansas, conventional wisdom is to fix it up first.
However, taking care of all the necessary repairs as the homeowner can get costly. And, to be honest, it may not be worth it or necessary. But we’ll cover that later!
The cheapest way to fix up a house to sell in Little Rock, Arkansas is to perform the labor on your own, especially the minor repairs.
Whether you do the home repair yourself or hire a contractor for the renovation, the cost of materials in today’s economy can be expensive. Whatever you pay for materials won’t come close to the cost of labor when a professional does the work for you.
The hardest part about fixing up real estate to sell in Little Rock, Arkansas is estimating the total cost of the job beforehand. It’s crucial to get multiple quotes from different contractors.
The home renovation and home improvement repair costs will vary depending on what type of material you use.
In this article, we’ll discuss the things people usually address and the average cost to fix up a house to sell in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Why Do People Fix Up Their House Prior to Sale?
A little curb appeal can up your home’s value immensely and attract the perfect home buyer.
One easy thing you can do to make your home more attractive is to update the lighting and plumbing fixtures. It won’t be long until items in your home become outdated and decrease your real estate value. Light and plumbing fixtures are often the first things in your home to go out of style.
Ceiling fans can work perfectly fine but be an eyesore for potential home buyers. This will lower the overall home value.
Appliances are another thing that usually needs to go during renovation. Newer models make the older versions look completely out of place in a modern kitchen.
Getting real estate ready for sale can feel a bit redundant at times. It’s important to see what is in style and even the colors that are popular. A little bit of modernizing can go a long way.
Most people that are in the market for a new home don’t want to worry about any renovation or replacements. They simply want to walk into their new home, start unpacking, and kick up their feet.
Here are the Most Common Types of Home Repairs Made Prior to Selling:
- Repainting
- Reflooring
- New Lighting Fixtures
- New Appliances
- Cosmetic Repairs
Now, let’s discuss each one in detail and also cover the average costs involved.
Is Repainting a House for Sale a Good Idea in Little Rock, Arkansas?
The cost of everything has increased dramatically after Covid hit. The cost of paint and labor has increased by about 20% to 40% in the past couple of years.
Interior painting costs around $4.50 per square foot. This means an average size home of 1500 square feet can cost as much as $6,750 to re-paint the entire interior of your house. This price may or may not include all window and door trims.
The exterior of the house requires more prep work so it is also a more expensive job.
You can expect to pay around $4.50 to $5.50 per square foot to have the outside of your house painted by a professional.
The Average Cost for Reflooring a House for Sale
Potential buyers don’t like to be greeted by worn or dirty carpeting, or scratched floors. But what should you do, and how much should you invest?
Hardwood flooring is the most expensive type of flooring you can purchase for your house. The only time anyone should install hardwood floors is when there are already hardwood floors in the home based on a certain vintage.
Even still, try to refinish them before replacing them. It cost three times more than carpet to install a hardwood floor in your home.
Most people go with new carpeting. A 1500 square foot home will cost about $4,500 to completely replace with carpet.
Tile is a great alternative and can be much cheaper for a quick floor covering to sell your home.
You can expect to pay another $500 or $1,000 if you want tile or vinyl added in the kitchen or bathrooms.
These prices are not based on the highest quality products that will cost an arm and a leg. These are fair prices utilizing materials that look nice and will last.
Are Recessed Lighting and New Fans a Good Idea Before Selling My House?
It may be hard to believe, but ugly light fixtures or ceiling fans can make or break a home sale. It’s important to replace all your light fixtures and ceiling fans with something modern and up-to-date. If your home has a certain style, then your fixtures must match.
One of the best choices anyone can make for light fixtures is recessed lighting. Canned lights are recessed into the ceiling and completely flush with the drywall.
Ceiling fans can range anywhere from $100 to $500. Like anything, you can go super high end but skip this on the fans.
While one person might find a $3,000 ceiling fan to be an absolute work of art, another person might find it completely hideous. The best choice is to go with basic fixtures that won’t draw too much attention.
How Much Should I Spend on Plumbing Fixtures and Appliances Before Selling My House?
New appliances can make a huge difference in selling your real estate. Adding new stainless steel appliances can add tremendous value to your real estate.
The best way to save money is to find used appliances that are still in good condition. By hunting around you might be able to find every appliance you need for a few hundred dollars each.
When it comes to your plumbing fixtures, you should be able to supply the entire house with a brand-new faucet for every sink, including your shower head, for around $1,300. Home inspections might find larger plumbing problems that buyers require to be fixed prior to closing. These can range from low pressure in supply lines to clogged drain or sewer problems. Costs like these will need to be quoted by a licensed local plumber, but can be significant.
What’s the Average Cost for Cosmetic Repairs on a House for Sale?
If you’ve decided not to sell your real estate in poor condition for a faster, easier sale, then you will also need to address the cosmetic concerns of potential buyers. You spent the money on making it look nice for any potential buyer. So you’ve got the painting, the flooring, the electrical, and the plumbing out of the way. Now it’s time for all the little nooks and crannies.
So how much should you expect to pay for cosmetic repairs on a house that you plan to sell anyway? With a bit of caulking and touch-up paint, you should be able to go through the house in a few hours and make the place appealing to the naked eye.
With the exterior paint and new flooring, you can expect to pay nearly $7,000. After spending a little over $1,000 on light fixtures and another $1-2k on plumbing fixtures, you can expect to pay nearly $10,000 to completely fix up a house before you sell it in Little Rock, Arkansas.
This of course is just an estimate. Some houses easily require $25,000+ if mechanical items, a new roof, or other issues are also present. This is particularly true after experiencing storm damage.
Let’s talk about a less-known strategy of selling your house fast without making any repairs at all. You may have heard of this as the “we buy houses” moniker. This means selling your house directly to a credible investor and skipping the open market hassle as well as repairs.
Should You Even Fix It?
Some Little Rock homeowners don’t spend a dime fixing up their house to sell it, and sell it without a realtor. It’s true!
It is perfectly fine to sell your real estate as is. It can be a lot to stomach the realtor fees, moving costs, and closing costs. You’ll have enough to deal with without repairs.
Gary Buys Houses is a reputable, family-owned company that buys homes all around Little Rock. We do not care what condition your property is in!
There is no need for you to make repairs before reaching out. You don’t even have to first sort through the belongings. We will make you a cash offer, giving you the highest price possible, and close fast. You don’t even need to worry about the cost of renting a dumpster for junk removal! Gary takes care of it all.
We will make all of the needed repairs to the home after we buy it, and at our expense. This provides you with peace of mind, and you can skip the burden of fixing your house before you need to sell it.
Reach out today for a free, no-risk offer on your home.
FAQs on Cost to Fix Up Home Before Selling it
Is it worth repairing a home In Little Rock, Arkansas before selling it?
It depends on your situation and budget. It’s expensive to fix up your home, and this could cost you between $10,000-$25,000 to make it show-ready.
Most people have been told they need to repair their homes before selling to get the highest price possible. You will fetch more, but then need to subtract the cost of repairs.
Many investors will pay cash for houses as-is, so while the sales price is lower than “retail”, you don’t have to pay for repairs. This can be a win-win situation if you work with the right company.
What is the average cost to fix up a house to sell it?
The average cost to fix up a house before selling in Little Rock, Arkansas is around $10,000 to $15,000. This includes exterior paint, the inside flooring, and all new plumbing and electrical fixtures.
